Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Tewkesbury Academy in Gloucestershire will take further strike action from next Monday (23rd February) over the continued failure of school management to address abusive and disruptive behaviour from a minority of students.
Despite two meetings since strike action started on 4th February with representatives from the Cabot Learning Federation, which runs the school, no significant progress has been made towards addressing the concerns of teachers.
Therefore the NASUWT has had no choice but to notify the employer of nine further days of strike action. Strike action is scheduled for 23rd, 24th and 25th February, 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th and 13th March.
NASUWT will be picketing outside the school between approximately 7am and 9.30am on each day of strike action.
Jane Peckham, NASUWT Deputy General Secretary, said:
“The responsibility for any further disruption caused to pupils or parents as a result of this strike action rests with the management of the academy. We have entered into negotiations in good faith, with the desire to achieve a resolution to this dispute, however we have not seen any significant movement from management to agree effective steps to address the behaviour of a minority of pupils and to ensure the safety of staff and fellow students.
“Our members should not be expected to accept verbal abuse or threats of violence as a part of the job. We will continue to defend their right to a safe working environment.”
Wendy Exton, NASUWT National Executive Member for Gloucestershire, said:
“All we are asking for is for an effective system of pupil behaviour management to be put in place which safeguards staff and pupils from violence and abuse and which supports pupils to focus on their learning.
“This should be in place in every school as a matter of course. Teachers should not have to resort to strike action to secure a safe, calm and orderly school environment.
“We remain open to further discussions with the Trust and we appeal for management to start taking the concerns of our members seriously so that we can find a resolution to this dispute.”
